National Panda Day is a holiday celebrated annually on March 16th to honor, celebrate, and bring attention to one of the world’s most endangered and beloved animals. These animals, native to China, have seen their habitat shrink dramatically over the last few decades, endangering their survival. That’s why everyone should take the time to observe this day and find out what steps they can take to help these cuddly animals.

The History of National Panda Day

Even though we couldn’t ascertain the origins of this holiday, we’re pretty sure that it was probably started by an organization or individuals concerned about the survival of the Giant Panda. Even though reforestation and conservation campaigns have helped bring pandas further away from extinction, there’s still a lot for people to do to ensure that this species continues to live and remain an important part of our natural world.

Facts About Pandas

Giant pandas are immediately recognizable to anyone who sees their plump bodies and their distinctive black and white coat of fur, with raccoon-like black fur around their eyes. Unfortunately, few people know much else about these animals, so we created this section to let everyone know just how special pandas are and to give our readers some information they might not ordinarily have.

Pandas Can Live Up to 20 Years

The one fact that many people don’t realize is that pandas have a lifespan of approximately 14-20 years.

Panda Babies Start Small

When pandas are first born, they’re about 1/800th the size of their mother. For comparison, that’s about the size of a stick of butter. Throughout their lifetime, male pandas will gain about 300 pounds, while female pandas will gain about 200 pounds.

Pandas Are Omnivorous

Even though bamboo forms the bulk of most pandas’ diets, sometimes there isn’t enough bamboo in an area for the panda to eat, so they end up having to find other ways to support their diet. In these instances, pandas will eat fish, insects, rodents, and even birds to supplement their diet.

Pandas Eat a Lot of Bamboo Shoots, Leaves & Stems

As we stated in the previous bullet point, pandas prefer bamboo to all other types of foods, and they can eat a lot of it. Pandas need to eat anywhere from 30 to 84 pounds of bamboo every single day.

How to Observe National Panda Day

First and foremost, the best way to observe National Panda Day is by donating to a wildlife sanctuary or a local zoo that supports panda conservation efforts. It’s also a good day to go to the zoo and visit some pandas or take your children to educate them about pandas. There are also several great documentaries that you can enjoy watching alone or with friends and family. And while you’re doing all of this to support pandas, to learn about them, and enjoy them, then you might want to finish the day by using the hashtag #NationalPandaDay on your social media accounts to share the love.